7 days, 7 adventures! Back in: Split, Croatia

Well we made the jump across the pond about a week ago - and a busy week it's been! 

Leaving Vancouver, BC is never one of our favourite things, but arriving in Split, Croatia definitely is! So its always a bit of a bittersweet trip! Except this time...when many of our friends & family are due to arrive in a just a few short weeks to celebrate....our wedding! 

That's right you may remember us mentioning a while back that we are getting married this summer in beautiful Split!  Only a month or so away now, and still so many preparations to do!  We did manage to squeeze in a bit of fun our first week back amongst it all!

A send-off from one of my favourite people, my little cousin!
And what a sweetheart she is!!! 

A fully stocked fun pack for our 
24hr trip over!!!! 

A day trip to the City of Omis, Croatia - 30 minute drive from Split 

A day spent on the beaches of Markarska Riveria - a popular destination for locals & tourists.  Only a 50 minute drive from Split!  And for you Europeans - 45kms. 

Cooling off in one of the many cafes lining the Makarska promenade!

Back in Split - dinner at one of our favourite spots - Dalmatino Here an appetizer calamari salad.  Absolutely delicious!

Newest addition to the family!

A day picking fresh, organic peaches in the hills of Podstrana - 10km out of Split.  You North Americans, its about a 15minute drive!

And a road trip to the capital city of Zagreb.  Pictured here is the National Theater. 

And now we're back on this beautiful Dalmatian coast, ticking things off the errand list in Split as the wedding approaches!

Hope you're all enjoying your summers...wherever you may be!

xo

CROATIA

We had a few posts before how Croatia is becoming a more and more popular tourist destination! Here is more evidence, check out what the Huffington post has to say!!

xo

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.

Let's Split Stories

 

 You must be wondering what is written above??

"I still remember the words

my father always use to say

don't go anywhere my son,

your home is...

....but always love Dalmacija!"

WHERE IS YOUR HOME?

People are always in a rush, buying and then selling houses, moving to a new city for THE job, running away, trying to figure out where might suit them, what they like or don't like!

 But sometimes it is enough to stop, take a minute, breathe in, think and just to ask yourself  'What do I really need, and what makes me happy?' 

And how to figure that out?? To answer such a hard and BIG question?? Likely starting from the past and reflecting on things you've accomplished, things you've tried, places you've visited, people that have made you smile no-matter the situation!

I know sometimes it is hard to find the answer.  The right answer.  The true answer.  Any answer. Some people search for it their entire life. Home. Where you belong.  Whether it be a house, a place in the world, or for some, a person.  Doesn't matter if, when and how you come to it, but finding that answer is important!

Some say "Home sweet Home" , or "Everywhere is nice, but at home is the best!" We say 

"Home is where your heart is".

WHAT DOES YOUR HEART SAY? WHERE DO YOU BELONG?

Split with us your stories! We are listening!

xo

TRAVELLING REMINDER.

We've updated our Accommodations page with another fantastic rental.  Remember that we carefully screen anything and everything we recommend and provide here at Lets Split, so you can rest assured that you get what you see! 

We also provide any information you might need to make your trip to Croatia an unforgettable one.  Even if you're already in Croatia and have some questions or need a hand continuing on your journey, just leave us a comment or send us email and we will respond you back as soon as possible!

Street singer & his puppy learning new tricks from a bigger friend

This is the life, sitting on Split Riva (promenade) and enjoying in each moment

xo

HIGHLIGHTS

We have added another page called Highlights.  You'll find a link to it on our gray menu-bar, right next to Postcards.

On Highlights we will share with you, by city, what to do/where to eat/where to stay/when to go there and anything else we think might be of interest.  We'll also update it to include FAQs and more destinations, and your requests!  

Ready. Set. Click. and check it out!

xo

ZAGREB.

The sensational city of Zagreb!

The capital of Croatia, this small-big city is one of my favourites in Europe.  It has everything a metropolitan city has: business centers, shopping malls, large sports centers, arenas, theaters.....and the best entertainment over the winter (as much of coastal Croatia sleeps from Nov-March preparing for the summer). Each year brings another famous act to Zagreb - U2, Britney Spears, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco: you name it!

Alongside all these recent and modern additions, architecture and history are at each turn.  Beautifully maintained buildings in the inner core as well as throughout the city, a easy to master transportation system, bus&train stations that leave you 5min from the center and close to amenities.  

While we spend most of our time here while in transit to another location, each visit is bustling with activity.  We always discover something new! 

Don't believe me?  Check it out for yourself!!

In case you're not convinced of the charm this city has yet - here's a few shots from last summer with bright blue skies and summer temperatures:

xo

10 DAYS + 5 CITIES = 1 UNFORGETTABLE TRIP.

 
The past two weeks have been a blur of....

.....get-togethers with family & old friends, ..Turkish coffees, ..holiday desserts, ..meat & cheese platters, ..bus & train stations, ..cities with different dialects, ...buildings lit up with red, green, yellow and blue bulbs, ...and exceptional evenings.

One of the greatest things stemming from our colourful backgrounds is that we have 2 Christmas' and 2 New Years - which means our holidays start Dec 24th and go all the way to January 14th!  The traditional Catholic Christmas (Dec 25th) and world-wide New Years (Dec 31st) celebrated in both Vancouver & Split (and in a large % of the world) are followed by the Orthodox Christmas (Jan 7th) and New Year's (Jan 14th).  Needless to say the merry-ness lasts just that extra bit longer and gives us an excuse to visit our family & friends way east of Vancouver and further east of Split in the always-buzzing city of Belgrade.

As this year's favourite Balkan destination for NYE (including an all-night party train from coastal Croatia to Belgrade and back!) Belgrade is known for its nightlife.  I've spent much of my life visiting, arriving in and departing from this city and have yet to master its web of public transport and curvy narrow streets.  The old part of the city, Kalemegdan, is perfect for a winter walk through history, munching on some freshly roasted chestnuts.  The whole inner core smells like popcorn and chestnuts - it's incredible!  To my luck, they have yet to get a snowfall this year (try navigating through a massive city where a north-south road suddenly into a one-way east street heading west, and ends up back at the northern most part of the city) when everything is covered in white.  While its always a bit stressful trying to cover all our bases and see everyone!, the city never ceases to provide a great time.
If you're thinking/planning/going to eastern Europe - Belgrade should be in your top 5.  No matter the season there are always a million things going on around town - club openings, museums, cafes & pastery shops, operas & theater, new shopping centers, not to mention the history at each turn (monuments, castles, WWII tanks, cobbled streets...the works!). Did I mention Serbia has a looooong history (including a Royal Family)...?
Belgrade truly is one of the greatest cities to experience the wonders of Eastern Europe and have a fantastic time doing it!!


Second stop was in a small town just outside of Osijek to visit some very dear family.  This is one of my favourite spots and I regularly make trips there whenever in Europe (usually multiple times!).  Set out in the country, this little gem is full of small-town charm; a main street with a couple of bakeries, a local store, a few cafes and a lot of friendly locals.  My favourite: a beautiful park along the Danube river, great for an evening stroll with ice cream in hand and oh.so.romantic at sunset in spring&summer.  But the thing that keeps drawing my heart back here? Three little munchkins who are growing up way too fast and who I absolutely adore to my utter core. 


Zagreb deserves an entire post so stay tuned on more about this sensational city!


And a final stop before landing back in Split is the majestic Lika which I've already told you about here.


Back in Split now catching up on a few things and looking forward to our upcoming agenda!

xo